Grapefruit League: Matusz allows one run in five innings in 4-1 loss to Phillies

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

It was by no means Brian Matusz’s most impressive start of the spring, but as far as results go, the Orioles lefthander did his job.

Matusz allowed seven hits over five innings Tuesday afternoon against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium, but yielded just one run to a Philadelphia lineup that included just three starters in the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Orioles.

Matusz, who allowed leadoff hits in three innings, was aided by three double-play balls, and some home-field wind gusts. Phillies centerfielder John Mayberry Jr. blasted a ball to leftfield that would have been a two-run homer in the fourth was blown inside the park for a harmless warning-track fly out.

Matusz threw 65 pitches (and 44 strikes) in his longest outing of the spring, striking out three and walking one. He’s given up just one run in his last three spring outings -- a span of 13 innings.

After throwing back-to-back outings of four scoreless innings in his last two outings, Matusz said it was good to face some adversity.

"It's going to happen over the course of a season, multiple times,” Matusz said. “It's being able to find a way to win, find a way to go as deep as I was able to go and keep grinding. That's what I was able to do today."

Phillies second baseman Freddy Galvis broke open a tied game in the top of the seventh, hitting a triple to centerfield that got just back Adam Jones and rolled to the wall. The hit scored Michael Martinez, who was hit in the ankle by Orioles righthander Jim Johnson.

Nick Markakis, making his first spring start in rightfield, was 0-for-3 in six innings of play.

Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones drove in the team’s only run of the game, hitting a first-inning double that drove in Nolan Reimold.

After starting the spring 4-2-1, the Orioles (6-8-4) have just two wins in their last 11 Grapefruit League games.